A New South Wales resident has been hit with a record $540,000 infringement notice for alleged serious breaches of the Migration Act, in what authorities say is the largest penalty ever issued to an individual under strengthened employer compliance laws.
The fine follows an extensive Australian Border Force investigation into an alleged unlawful labour-hire syndicate accused of exploiting migrant workers across regional NSW.
Authorities allege the individual operated a large-scale illegal enterprise that employed temporary visa holders and unlawful non-citizens through multiple companies, housed them in overcrowded and substandard accommodation, and systematically underpaid workers.
Over the past year, officers from the Department of Home Affairs executed 12 search warrants at properties linked to the individual, uncovering evidence of 50 alleged breaches involving the employment of temporary visa holders and people without lawful status. Investigators reported that some migrant workers were living in squalid conditions described as akin to modern slavery.
The investigation further alleges the individual targeted temporary migrants and visitors whose visas carried strict work conditions, falsely promising sponsored work visas in exchange for thousands of dollars. In some cases, fraudulent or invalid protection visa applications were allegedly lodged without the workers’ knowledge.
Those workers were then referred to agricultural labour-hire companies in regional NSW, despite some allegedly being in breach of their visa conditions.
Since 1 July 2024, more than $3 million in infringement notices have been issued nationwide under tougher employer compliance laws.
Authorities have reiterated that Australia will not tolerate abuse of its visa system or the exploitation of migrant workers, who play a vital role in the economy, particularly in rural and regional areas. Foreign workers and temporary visa holders who believe they are being exploited are urged to seek assistance.
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